“The launch of the iPad Mini is a key moment in the corporate history of Apple,” Ewan Spence writes for Forbes. “More than the iterative iPhone 5, the smaller form factor of the likely 7.85 inch tablet is the first new product line to be helmed fully by CEO Tim Cook. This is the moment where Cook will step out of the shadow of Steve Jobs to show what a Cook’ed Apple will look like.”

MacDailyNews Note: There’s no proof that Jobs did not have significant input into the iPad mini. Apple’s product development time is measured in years, not months.

“There are five key areas around the launch of the iPad Mini which will give a good indication of Apple’s future direction,” Spence writes. “What stats has Cook rolled under allure, aggression, acknowledgement, agility, and affection, and why are they important?”

By the way, court documents showed that Jobs was becoming more positive about iPad mini already by very late of 2010. So this was probably the point when Apple started to do some real design of the device.

Yes we know that IPad mini prototypes existed in Jobs time the only matter of uncertainty is whether it was given the go ahead before he left the company. Personally I would have liked to have seen this launched at least 6 month ago, delay may have opened the door for Android tablets to establish a decent foothold in this segment.

2- Jobs was still talking to Tim Cook about Apple’s future plans the day before he died (Oct. 4). A CEO from another business was in Cook’s office that day when Jobs called him. Cook excused himself and said something like “my boss wants to talk about our next product.”http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394927,00.asp

Please enlighten us, botvinnik…is there any media outlet that produces products you deem worthy of purchase? You diss the NYT. Same with the WSJ. One would suspect that botvinnik is the only trusted source of data for botvinnik.

I, like the author, believe Cook is behind the mini. I expect the mini was approved as a counter to the threat of the plethora of 7 inches launched by the competition. Steve was not aware of the popularity of these devices over the last year and the threat to Apples domination of the mobile arena. To design and implement the 7 inch iteration would be quick and easy for Ive and a piece of cake for Cook’s manufacturing chops. I loved Steve too, but I think the mini will be Cook’s recipe and the rest of Apple’s fine cadre of capable leaders. Just my opinion.

I work in a school system where I move from classroom to classroom 7 times a day collecting observation data. The regular iPad is too large and heavy to be practical.

the 7.85 size will be a great help. Will buy one the first day.

As long as Apple produces a good product at a good price so that it is profitable for them and the price matches the value for rme, why does anyone’s opinion that it shouldn’t be done count for anything?

1- Jobs made those remarks before Amazon started selling Kindles and Kindle Fires and other companies had products in the pipeline. In the late fall and early spring last year, I believe about 75 different tablets were either being sold, designed or planned. (Maybe more.)

2- Jobs said some of the same things about never producing a tablet shortly before Apple launched the iPad. He NEVER telegraphed his next punch. So stop quoting him as though he would never deceive you. Sheesh!

MDN there is no proof that Jobs did not have input because there is no proof that an iPad mini exists.
Is this how things now become fact, we talk about rumors to the point that they become fact.
I’m glad we are not discussing Bigfoot everyday.

Agreed. I have a mount for the iPad in my car and using Apple Maps is simply fantastic.

Just last week a lady asked while at the gas station where I got the “really big GPS” for my car.

I explained what it was and that hopefully Apple would be coming out with a form factor that would suit the car better (as the iPad does look a bit enormous on the dashboard of a Honda civic and covers the air controls).

I’m going to guess that Jobs okayed this which means it has his name all over it. Besides, it’s just a smaller iPad it’s not like it’s something revolutionary. I think that Steve Jobs was wrong when he said that a 7 inch tablet computer would not work for Apple. It seemed like a no-brainer to me and most people that it was a good idea. Just think what could have happened if they had brought out both iPads at the same time. It would have destroyed any future competition for a number of years. I believe it was a real mistake. He didn’t make many mistakes but that was a big one. And it wasn’t that it was not possible technically because the competition has had smaller tablets since that time. That mistake and the mistake of allowing AT&T exclusivity with the original iPhone has allowed the competition to be as strong as they are today. But I’m sure that Tim Cook will ensure that this thing gets to market it as good as anyone could possibly manage. I think it will sell like hotcakes! Even better than the original iPads.